Ignatius: Kerry's first priority is Syria

7:08 AM,
Feb. 5, 2013

Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., sits before the committee he has served on for 28 years and led for the past four as he seeks confirmation as U.S. Secretary of State on Capitol Hill in Washington.

Written by

David Ignatius

David Ignatius is a columnist for the Washington Post. He can be reached at davidignatius@washpost.com.

John Kerry's first task as incoming secretary of state should be to develop a coherent policy for Syria, where U.S. sanctions are proving counterproductive, the fighting around Damascus is deadlocked, the economy is in ruins and the country is headed toward a sectarian breakup. This grim prognosis for Syria is based on the latest reports provided to the State Department by opposition forces working with the Free Syrian Army.